News

Revellers head to island festival

A total of 75,000 revellers are converging on the Isle of Wight this weekend for the first major music festival of the summer.

The Isle of Wight Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year after it re-incarnated the spirit of the legendary events of the late 1960s.

This year's headliners are Kings of Leon, Foo Fighters, Kasabian and newly-reformed Pulp.

Other acts include Liam Gallagher's new band Beady Eye, which he formed after splitting from Oasis, Kaiser Chiefs and Iggy and the Stooges.

Festival promoter John Giddings said he chose a line-up with a more contemporary feel than previous years which have featured "retro" headliners such as Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie and The Who.

He said: "We have had The Beatles (Paul McCartney) and the Stones and I came to the answer that for our 10th anniversary we should come into the 21st century and grow up.

"The Foo Fighters and Kings of Leon are the two biggest rock bands around at the moment and Kasabian have taken up the mantle from Oasis now that they've split up - these are the bands of the future."

He said there were still other legendary acts he would like to appear but had been unable to book so far. He said: "I would love to get Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd; I ask Bob Dylan every year but he never replies."

Despite his claim to have moved on to "young" bands, his line-up includes Pulp, originally formed by Jarvis Cocker 33 years ago, and Foo Fighters, which are led by Dave Grohl, the drummer from early-90s grunge rockers Nirvana.

Geoff Lloyd, DJ for Absolute Radio, which is broadcasting from the festival, said: "2011 is an extra special year for the Isle of Wight Festival and we'll all be there to celebrate its 10th birthday in style."